The highball glass is the workhorse of cocktail service — tall, simple, and versatile. Its design makes it ideal for drinks that are built directly in the glass, often over ice, and lengthened with soda, tonic, or other carbonated mixers. Where the cocktail glass is about elegance, the highball is about refreshment and practicality. Its straight, tall sides hold generous amounts of liquid and ice, making it the perfect vessel for long drinks enjoyed slowly.
In India, the highball glass has become one of the most widely used pieces of barware. Whiskey with soda or water, gin with tonic, and rum with cola — all staples of Indian drinking culture — are traditionally served in highballs. At weddings, clubs, and family gatherings, highball glasses dominate service, embodying both familiarity and reliability.